Police are on the hunt after a woman was robbed in a Kilwinning underpass – the second incident of a lady being mugged in two months.

The community has since expressed their outrage over the incident – with two brave girls who came to the woman’s aid praised by a Kilwinning councillor.

At around 5.45pm on Saturday, a 55-year-old woman was walking through the underpass in Pennyburn Road, Kilwinning,when she was approached by a man who grabbed the plastic bag she was carrying and made off with it towards Sundrum Place, Kilwinning.

The suspect is described as white, 21-30 years of age, medium build, with a dark complexion and brown stubble, and wearing a dark grey/washed out black hooded top that had writing on the back (NFD) and dark coloured tracksuit bottoms.

Detective Constable Nicola Fraser, Saltcoats CID, said: “Thankfully the lady was not injured, however, she is very distressed by what happened. Two teenage girls came to her aid and called police.

“She had been carrying a supermarket ‘bag for life’ which had her purse, her mobile phone and some personal items inside.

“We have spoken to some people who were there at the time, but would ask that anyone who saw what happened or who maybe recognises the description of the man, or indeed has any information that will assist our enquiry, contact police.”

The next day a Kilwinning councillor organised a gathering at the underpass via social media for residents to suggest what could be done to improve safety.

Suggestions have included installation of CCTV, better lighting and trimming of undergrowth.

Councillor Scott Davidson said: “I first heard of it on Saturday evening, I found out what I could then logged it as an issue with the council the next day. One of my family members was the victim of an assault recently so I understand how people feel.

“We all have friends and family who use that underpass so it’s in everybody’s interest to make it as safe as we can.

“Everyone wants to know what we can realistically do to improve public safety and nobody knows what a town needs more than the people who live there.

“Some of the ideas included mobile CCTV on lampposts, trimming back some of the bushes and looking at the route the path takes – maybe it would be better if the path came along the front of the trees by the roadside.

“Network Rail own the tunnel and the council owns either side of the tunnel, so basically we need to have some multi-agency meeting and see what we can come up with.

“I’d really like to commend the two young girls who went to the aid of the woman on Saturday, and made her know she wasn’t alone. All too often people think youngsters are up to no good but we seldom hear of the many good things they do.”

“I was glad to see council leader Joe [Cullinane] come down as well so we can work together in the council, with the locality partnership and community council and see what realistically we can do to improve safety.”

Any information can be passed to police via 101. Please quote incident number 3203/09/09/17 when calling.

Alternatively, details can be give anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.